This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) This articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "List of kings of Leinster" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(May 2023) This article'slead sectionmay be too long. Please read thelength guidelines and helpmove details into the article's body.(May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Kings ofLeinster
Ríthe na Laighean
Map of Leinster,c. 10th century.
Details
Style	Rí Laighin
First monarch	Úgaine Mór
Last monarch	Domhnall Spáinneach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach
Formation	Ancient
Abolition	1603 or 1632 (de facto)
Residence	Dún Ailinne
Appointer	Tanistry

Thekings of Leinster (Irish:Ríthe na Laighean) ruled from the establishment ofLeinster during theIrish Iron Age until the 17th centuryEarly Modern Ireland. According to Gaelic traditional history found in works such as theBook of Invasions, Leinster was created during the division of Ireland among theIrish Gaels, descendants ofMilesius: Leinster was one of the territories held by the offspring ofHeremon. In the 7th century BC, the branch of the Heremonians who would establish Leinster, starting withÚgaine Mór, were alsoHigh Kings of Ireland andKings of Tara. Their ascent to hegemony in Ireland was associated with the decline in influence of their Ulster-based Heremonian kinsmen from theÉrainn.

Apart from Úgaine Mór, other prominent Kings of Leinster from this period who were also High Kings of Ireland wereLabraid Loingsech andCathair Mór. A mythology developed that Labraid Loingsech had horses ears: he spent some time exiled inTransalpine Gaul (dated roughly to the period of theRoman–Gallic wars) where his grandmother was from and returned to Ireland with Gaullish mercenaries. He established a base in the area, which was renamed from "Gailian" to Leinster, in reference to the pointed-spears held by the GaullishGaesatae mercenaries who provided the backbone of Labraid Loingsech's powerbase and brought him to the High Kingship. Cathair Mór, who was also a High King of Ireland, is perhaps the most important figure genealogically in Leinster as all of the subsequent kinship groups which ruled Gaelic Leinster claimed descent and legitimacy to rule from one of his ten sons who had offspring.

By the time ofEarly Christian Ireland, the Laighín had lost their grip on Irish hegemony with the rise of the descendants ofConn of the Hundred Battles (theConnachta and theUí Néill). The latter pushed down into Leinster and created theKingdom of Meath based atUisnech, under theSouthern Uí Néill from territories belonging to the Kingdom of Leinster and to the westOsraige was taken from the Laighín by theCorcu Loígde of Munster.

During the 5th to the early 8th centuries, the Kingship of Leinster was contested by various different branches of the Laighín, including theUí Cheinnselaig (ancestors of theMac Murchada andCaomhánach), theUí Dúnlainge (ancestors of the O'Byrnes and the O'Tooles), theUí Bairrche (ancestors of theMac Gormáin), theUí Máil (ancestors of theÓ Conchobhair Uí Failghe) and others.

From the 8th until the 11th century, the kingship of Leinster rotated in a remarkably stable arrangement between three branches of the North LeinsterUí Dúnlainge kinship, namely the Uí Fáeláin (ancestors of the O'Byrnes), the Uí Muiredaig (ancestors of the O'Tooles) and the Uí Dúnchada (whose descendants became the MacGillaMoCholmóc and later the FitzDermots). In the 9th century, the Laighín also regained control of Osraige but it remained a largely independent realm under theMac Giolla Phádrag, from the semi-autonomousUí Failghe kinship group.

TheUí Cheinnselaig in South Leinster took back control of the kingship of Leinster in the 11th century, withDiarmait mac Máel na mBó, who became the first Leinsterman to be High King of Ireland in over a thousand years and claimed to the most senior line of the Laighín. An enemy of theVikings ofDublin, he gave refuge to the sons ofHarold Godwinson after theNormans conquered England. It is from this line that the Mac Murchada family originate and laterDiarmait Mac Murchada would be implicated in the 12th centuryNorman invasion of Ireland after he tried to win back his Leinster throne. The reigning dynasty adopted the surnameCaomhánach (Kavanagh) and continued to rule a rump Kingdom of Leinster until the early 17th century, with the last recorded King of Leinster beingDomhnall Spáinneach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach. Throughout the centuries after the Norman invasion, several Kings and also leaders from dynasties who had previously held the Kingship of Leinster, continued to resist the invasion and hounded theEnglish Pale periodically from theWicklow Mountains: including the leaders of the O'Toole and O'Byrne clans (notable examples includeArt Óg Mac Murchadha Caomhánach andFiach McHugh O'Byrne) until the 17th century.

• Mesgegra

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Úgaine Mór 634–594 BC		Son ofEochu Buadach	unknown	594 BCE
Lóegaire Lorc 594–592 BC		Son ofÚgaine Mór	unknown	592 BCE
Ailill Áine 592–592 BC		Son ofLóegaire Lorc	unknown	592 BCE
Cobthach Cóel Breg 592–542 BC		Son of Úgaine Mór	unknown	542 BCE
Labraid Loingsech 542–523 BC		Son ofAilill Áine mac Lóegaire Lorc	unknown	523 BCE
Cathair Mór 119–122 AD		Son ofFedlimid Fir Urglais mac Cormaic Gealtach	11 children	122 AD

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Fiacha Baicheda mac Cathair Mór –		Son ofCathair Mór	unknown	416
Bressal Bélach mac Fiacha Baicheda –436		Son ofFiacha Baicheda mac Cathair Mór	unknown	436
Énnae Cennsalach mac Labhradh –		Son ofLabhradh mac Bressal Bélach	unknown	unknown

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Muiredach Mo Sníthech mac Dáire Barrach – (claimant)		Son ofDáire Barrach mac Cathair Mór	unknown	unknown
Móenach mac Muiredach Mo Sníthech – (claimant)		Son ofMuiredach Mo Sníthech mac Dáire Barrach	unknown	unknown

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Crimthann mac Énnai 446–483		Son ofÉnnae Cennsalach	unknown	483

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Ailill mac Dúnlainge 495–527		Son ofDúnlaing mac Énda Niada	Etromma Ui Tellain	527
Cormac mac Ailillo 527–535		Son of Ailill mac Dúnlainge	unknown	535
Coirpre mac Cormaic 535–546		Son ofCormac mac Ailillo	unknown	546
Colmán Már mac Coirpre 546–576		Son ofCoirpre mac Cormaic	unknown	576
Áed Dub mac Colmáin 576–592		Son ofColmán Már mac Coirpre	unknown	639

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Áed Dibchine 592–595		Son ofSeanach Diodhach mac Carthann Muadh	unknown	595

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Brandub mac Echach 595–605		Son ofEchu mac Muiredaig	unknown	605
Rónán mac Colmáin 605–624		Son ofColmán mac Cormaic	unknown	624

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Crimthann mac Áedo 624–633		Son ofÁed Dibchine	unknown	633

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Fáelán mac Colmáin 633–656 656–666		Son ofColmán Már mac Coirpri	unknown	666

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Crundmáel Erbuilc 656		Son ofRónán mac Colmáin	unknown	656

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Fiannamail mac Máele Tuile 666–680		Son ofMáele Tuile mac Rónán Crach	unknown	680

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Bran Mut mac Conaill 680–693		Son ofConall mac Fáelán	unknown	693

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Cellach Cualann 693–715		Son ofGertighe mac Diocolla Dana	unknown	715

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Murchad mac Brain Mut 715–727		Son ofBran Mut mac Conaill	unknown	727
Dúnchad mac Murchada 727–728		Son ofMurchad mac Brain Mut	unknown	728

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Fáelán mac Murchada 728–738		Son ofMurchad mac Brain Mut	unknown	738

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Bran Becc mac Murchada 738		Son ofMurchad mac Brain Mut	unknown	738

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Áed mac Colggen 738		Son ofColcú mac Bressail	unknown	738

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Muiredach mac Murchada 738–760		Son ofMurchad mac Brain Mut	unknown	760

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin 776–785		Son ofFáelán mac Murchada	unknown	785

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Bran Ardchenn 785–795		Son ofMuiredach mac Murchada	unknown	795

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Muiredach mac Brain 808–818		Son ofBran Ardchenn	unknown	818

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Muiredach mac Ruadrach 818–829		Son ofRuaidrí mac Fáeláin	unknown	829

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Cellach mac Brain 829–834		Son ofBran Ardchenn	unknown	834

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Lorcán mac Cellaig 838–851		Son ofCellach mac Brain	unknown	unknown
Túathal mac Máele-Brigte 851–854		Son ofMuiredach mac Brain	unknown	854

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Muirecán mac Diarmata 862–863		Son ofDiarmata mac Ruadrach	unknown	863

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Dúnlaing mac Muiredaig 863–869		Son ofMuiredach mac Brain	unknown	869
Ailill mac Dúnlainge 869–871		Son ofDúnlaing mac Muiredaig	unknown	871

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Domnall mac Muirecáin 871–884		Son ofMuirecán mac Diarmata	unknown	884

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Cerball mac Muirecáin 885–909		Son ofMuirecán mac Diarmata	unknown	909

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Augaire mac Aililla 909–917		Son ofAilill mac Dúnlainge	unknown	917

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Bran Fionn mac Máel Mórda 943–947		Son ofMáel Mórda mac Murchada	unknown	947

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Túathal mac Úgaire 947–958		Son ofAugaire mac Aililla	unknown	958

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Murchad mac Brain Fionn 966–972		Son ofBran Fionn mac Máel Mórda	unknown	972

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Úgaire mac Túathail 972–978		Son ofTúathal mac Úgaire	unknown	978

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Máel Mórda mac Murchada 1003–1014		Son ofMurchad mac Brain Fionn	unknown	1014

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Dúnlaing mac Tuathal 1014		Son ofTúathal mac Úgaire	unknown	1014
Donncuan mac Dúnlainge 1014–1016		Son ofDúnlaing mac Tuathal	unknown	1016

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Bran mac Máel Mórda 1016–1018		Son ofMáel Mórda mac Murchada	unknown	1052

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Augaire mac Dúnlainge 1018–1024		Son ofDúnlaing mac Tuathal	unknown	1024
Donnchad mac Dúnlainge 1024–1033		Son ofDúnlaing mac Tuathal	unknown	unknown

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic 1033–1039		Son ofGilla Pátraic mac Donnchada	unknown	1039

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Murchad mac Dúnlainge 1039–1042		Son ofDúnlaing mac Tuathal	unknown	1042

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Diarmait mac Máel na mBó 1042–1072		Son ofDonnchad Máel na mBó	Derbforgaill, daughter ofDonnchad mac Briain	7 February 1072
Murchad mac Diarmata 1052–1070		Son ofDiarmait mac Máel na mBó	unknown	1070
Domnall mac Murchada 1072–1075		Son ofMurchad mac Diarmata	unknown	1075
Donnchad mac Domnaill Remair 1075–1089		Son ofDomnall Remar mac Máel na mBó	unknown	1089
Énna mac Diarmata 1089–1092		Son ofDiarmait mac Máel na mBó	unknown	1092
Diarmait mac Énna 1092–1098		Son ofÉnna mac Diarmata	unknown	1098
Donnchadh mac Murchada 1098–1115		Son ofMurchad mac Diarmata	unknown	1115

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Conchobar mac Congalaig 1115		Son ofCongalach Ua Conchobair	unknown	1115

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Diarmait mac Énna meic Murchada 1115–1117		Son ofÉnna Mac Murchada	unknown	1117
Énna mac Donnchada mic Murchada 1117–1126		Son ofDonnchadh mac Murchada	unknown	1126
Diarmait Mac Murchada 1126–1166 1169–1171		Son ofDonnchad mac Murchada	unknown	1171

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Domhnall Caomhánach Mac Murchada 1171–1175		Son ofDiarmait Mac Murchada	unknown	1175
Domhnall Óg mac Domhnall Caomhánach –		Son ofDomhnall Caomhánach Mac Murchada	unknown	unknown
Muirchertach mac Domhnall Óg Mac Murchada Caomhánach –1282		Son ofDomhnall Óg mac Domhnall Caomhánach	unknown	1282
Muiris mac Muirchertach Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1282–1314		Son ofMuirchertach mac Domhnall Óg Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1314
Art Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1314–1323		Son ofDomhnall Óg mac Domhnall Caomhánach	unknown	1361
Domhnall mac Art Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1323–1338		Son ofArt mac Domhnall Óg Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1338
Domhnall mac Domhnall Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1338–1347		Son ofDomhnall mac Art Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1338
Muirchertach mac Muiris Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1347–1354		Son ofMuiris mac Muirchertach Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1354
Art Mór Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1354–1362		Son ofMuirchertach mac Muiris Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1362
Diarmait Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1362–1369		Son ofDomhnall mac Domhnall Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1369
Donnchadh mac Muirchertach Mac Murchada Caomhánach 1369–1375		Son ofMuirchertach mac Muiris Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1375
Art Mór Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1369–1375		Son ofMuirchertach mac Muiris Mac Murchada Caomhánach	unknown	1375
Art Óg Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1375–1417		Son ofArt Mór Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1417
Donnchadh mac Art Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1417–1478		Son ofArt Óg Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1478
Domhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1478		Son ofGerald Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1478
Muircheartach mac Donnchadh Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1478–1512		Son ofDonnchadh mac Art Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1512
Art Buidhe Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1512–1517		Son ofDomhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1517
Gerald Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1517–1523		Son ofDomhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1523
Muiris mac Domhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1523–1531		Son ofDomhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1531
Muircheartach mac Art Buidhe Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1531–1547		Son ofArt Buidhe Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1547
Muiris mac Domhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1523–1531		Son ofDomhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1531
Murchadh Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1531–1557		Son ofMuiris mac Domhnall Riabhach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1531
Criomthann Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1557–1582		Son ofMurchadh Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1582
Domhnall Spáinneach Mac Murchadha Caomhánach 1582–1603		Son ofDonnchadh mac Cathaoir Mac Murchadha Caomhánach	unknown	1632

• List of High Kings of Ireland
• List of Kings of Osraige
• List of kings of Ulster
• List of kings of Connacht
• List of kings of Munster
• List of kings of Mide

This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na Núachongbála, section 26, page 181, Ríg Lagen;http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G800011A/text026.html
• Kings of Leinster Genealogical Tables, pages 288–290,"Irish Kings and High Kings", Francis John Byrne, Dublin, 1973.
• Kings, Saints and Sagas, Alfred. P. Smyth, inWicklow:History and Society, 1994.ISBN 978-0-906602-30-0
• Kings, the kingship of Leinster and the regnal poems of "laidshencfhas Laigen:a reflection of dynastic politics in Leinster, 650–1150,Edel Bhreathnach, inSeanchas: Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour ofFrancis John Byrne, ed. Alfred P. Smyth, pp. 299–312,Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2000
• Kings of Leinster Genealogical Tables, pages 247–249, "War, Politics and the Irish of Leinster 1156–1606", Emmett O'Bryne, Dublin, 2004.
• Register of Irish Chiefs as compiled by genealogist Sean J. Murphy:http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/chiefs/register.htm

• Annals of the Kings of Leinster
• Uí Bairrche by Tracey Clann

• Kings of Leinster
• Leinster
• Lists of Irish monarchs
• MacMorrough Kavanagh dynasty
• Uí Ceinnselaig
• Gaels

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles needing additional references from May 2023
• All articles needing additional references
• Wikipedia introduction cleanup from May 2023
• All pages needing cleanup
• Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from May 2023
• All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify
• Articles with multiple maintenance issues
• Use dmy dates from December 2023
• Articles containing Irish-language text
• Articles with hatnote templates targeting a nonexistent page
• Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2024
• All articles lacking in-text citations